This will be our first BurningMan and we are blowing the cash at rock star rates. So far the big thing has been our tent trailer, and all the accouterments. But also a ship load of sarongs and other light weight garb. And camping gear, and favours, and and and...

We are having fun doing it all, and the bills won't land till we are back. Our VISA, hallowed be thy name...

I don't know about you guys, but the way I see it, I just saved $2100. How, you ask? Well, 600 gallons of propane at $3.50/gallon that won't be used on my mutant vehicle, oh sorry, art truck, because it won't be allowed on the playa so there will be no fire effects. Candidly, I would have rather spent the 2-large plus entertaining the denizens of Black Rock City, but that now will not be the case. Thank you DMV for saving me from myself!

That's the other thing, when I first got my introduction into this community I noticed that these people were not the mooching, job-less burnt-out hippies living on almond butter. A lot of burners are fucken LOADED! Haven't you seen those ginormous rockstar tour busses that pull into BM? Those babies aren't cheap to own OR rent!

The first dude I met (who shall remain nameless) told me about his hotel he owns in Thailand that is a big swingers hotel! Holy hell!

Its really true that broke ass hippies generally can't afford burning man. I find it really fascinating that burners are actually middle to upper class folk who spend oodles of money getting themselves to the desert when they could easily go to Europe and vacation in Portofino every summer. At least, I sort of could, instead I prefer eating bacon off a dusty plate in the middle of 98 degree heat after no sleep. yeahhhhh!

It might be worth noting that some folks make it on a showstring budget and some put in tons of work and wind up paying nothing.

I've seen every walk of life represented at BM. There is a definite tendency towards well off folks showing though. The more you need to camp with the more you will spend. I will be an expert this year in camping minimalist.

I just got the shit kicked out of me by the universe and suddenly I'm realizing just how trivial all the crap is that one can pay for or bring in order to have a good time out there.

Due to some circumstances arising recently, my tolerance has been put to the test early and I'm now seeing how me being stingy, or my "maybe you should have thought to bring your own goddamn EL wire" thoughts are really going to impede ME from having a great time out there. Not how much money or cool stuff I brought.

My attitude is really the most important thing I can bring with me, and I'm reframing that in a positive way right fucking now.

This is why I love BM, because its that completely flat surface of the playa that serves as a mirror for my shit, and everyone else's.

2 months before the burn I picked up an old Diesel rig with a 14 foot box on the back. I had some good plans for that! My buddy and I were gonna haul the dome and the carport and all the rest of the goodies. The rig ran me about 3 grand, but I was stoked. Then life's shit hit the fan. I already have my ticket, but now I'll head down around Tuesday with my car. No new gear purchased, gas and minimal food will be the only out of pocket expenses. So this will probably be the most expensive "on the cheap" trip I make

At least I'll be there though, last year I stayed home due to a new baby being born. A wonderful event, but I am ready to be back out on the playa now.. Guess I'll just have to save the infrastructure day dreams for next year... The wife should be able to make it then as well